Bracing for Armageddon?

The Science and Politics of Bioterrorism in America

William R. Clark

Offers a scientifically accurate account of the various kinds of bioterrorism

An important contribution, presenting analyses of plausible bioterrorist scenarios adequately and professionally.

Fills a gap in the existing literature with a fair-minded and balanced account of current biodefense preparedness.

Written accessibly for the non-specialist reader

The author is both analytical and critical of public and vested interest responses to US treatment of bioterrorist threat over the past five years, which has placed excessive priority on preparing for very unlikely occurrences while the public health system in the US has been significantly eroded.

The ease with which this book reads will make it an excellent choice for undergraduate course use, and of good use for some graduate level courses. This includes various disaster preparedness/emergency response curricula in technical schools around the US.

Contains a simplified review of the agents and description of drill efforts.

Bracing for Armageddon?

The Science and Politics of Bioterrorism in America

William R. Clark

Description

Since September 11th, the threat of a bioterrorist attack--massive, lethal, and unpreventable--has hung in the air over America. Bracing for Armageddon? offers a vividly written primer for the general reader, shedding light on the science behind potential bioterrorist attacks and revealing what could happen, what is likely to happen, and what almost certainly will not happen. The story opens with a riveting account of a bioterrorism scenario commissioned by the U.S. government. Using this doomsday tableau as a springboard, Clark reviews a host of bioterrorist threats (from agroterrorism to a poisoning of the water supply) and examines not only the worst-case menace of genetically engineered pathogens, but also the lethal agents on the CDC's official
bioterrorism list, including Smallpox, Anthrax, Plague, Botulism, and Ebola. His overview of attempted bioterrorist attacks to date--such as the failed Aum Shinrikyo attempts in 1995 in Japan and the Anthrax attack in the US following 9/11--bolstered by interviews with a range of experts--shows why virtually all of these attempts have failed. Indeed, he demonstrates that a successful bioterrorism attack is exceedingly unlikely, while a major flu epidemic (such as the deadly epidemic of 1918 that killed millions worldwide) is a virtual certainty. Given the long odds of a bioterrorist attack, Clark asks, has the more than $40 billion the United States has dedicated to the defense against bioterrorism really been well spent? Is it time to move on to other priorities? In contrast to
the alarmist fears stoked by the popular media, William Clark here provides a reassuring overview of what we really need to worry about--and what we don't.

Bracing for Armageddon?

The Science and Politics of Bioterrorism in America

William R. Clark

Table of Contents

IntroductionChapter 1. Tales of a Dark Winter: A Play in Three ActsChapter 2. Bioterrorism in AmericaChapter 3. Agents of TerrorChapter 4. Genetically Modified PathogensChapter 5. The Ultimate Bioterrorist - Mother Nature!Chapter 6. The Very Food on Your Plate (And the Water in Your Glass)Chapter 7. America RespondsChapter 8. Political, Legal, and Social Issues in a National Health EmergencyChapter 9. The Politics of Bioterrorism in AmericaChapter 10. Assessing the ThreatNotesGlossaryIndex

Bracing for Armageddon?

The Science and Politics of Bioterrorism in America

William R. Clark

Author Information

William R. Clark is Professor and Chair Emeritus of Immunology at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is an internationally recognized authority on the killer T lymphocytes involved in organ transplant rejection and in viral immunity. He has written extensively on topics in science and medicine for the general public.

Bracing for Armageddon?

The Science and Politics of Bioterrorism in America

William R. Clark

Reviews and Awards

"A book that manages to be at once fairly comprehensive in scope and accessible to the general public, Bracing for Armageddon should be of interest not only to those involved in science and policy, but also to those wanting to know the details of existing threats, and what is being done to thwart them."-- Chemical Heritage

"Bracing for Armageddon provides a skillfully written and highly accessible overview of bioterrorism. While some bits of information may be challenging for the non-scientist, Clark's well-organized book includes extensive and helpful endnotes, an index, and a glossary. This is a valuable reference for an informed citizenry." -- Calforina Literary Review